What to Do If a Dog Eats Rat Poison

Rat or mouse poison is a very common substance used for getting rid of rodents in homes or backyards.

It is very efficient in killing rats, but also in poisoning or ultimately killing your dog if he finds it first and decides to give it a taste. This is a situation that many pet owners have previously found themselves in, and it’s crucial that you know what to do should this happen to your pup.

As a rule of thumb, dogs and rodenticides never make a good mix, and if you are a pet owner, you are probably aware of that. And even if you don’t use these around your home or yard, dogs being dogs, they like to run around snooping and adventuring, particularly puppies, and they might end up in a neighbor’s yard or garage where they can find these dangerous substances and ingest them.

When going to the vet, bring the poison package with you so that he can see what poison your dog ingested.

It is crucial to know the type of poison because this will decide the course of treatment as they are very different. If you have forgotten to bring the package, ask somebody to read the EPA registration number from it and send it to you because this would also help the vet to recognize the type of poison and react quicker.

Also prepare the responses to the your vet’s questions, such as: When did this happen? When did you notice the symptoms? What are the symptoms? Do you yourself feel any different?

Summary

When your pet ingests rat poison, the situation should not to be taken lightly and the dog must receive the necessary medical care as quickly as possible. It is important to remember that it is treatable and avoid panicking.

Other than when advised to induce vomiting in your pooch, don’t try to provide any other type of medical assistance to the dog yourself – simply call your vet or animal poison control hotline. After that, your goal is to provide as much information as possible to the vet treating your dog.